Its been fun :)
I've also had the privilege to hang out with my friend Allie (who I've known since I was 3) and swim in her pool!
Recently
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Recently...I've been working. Coaching t-ball and kickball and dodgeball. Having end of the session water fights. I've also had the privilege of working with my brother Grant!
More recently...we have been getting ready for the big party here this weekend! More on that later!
Throw Pillows
*I understand that this topic is lighter than a lot of my most recent blogs....and I don't care.*
I love throw pillows. I know they seem silly. But I like throw pillows for what I think are good reasons. I like to hug them...they give me great comfort. I blame one of my Student Council Advisers/teachers. She had this pillow that she kept in the classroom for kids who were having bad days. She always knew when something wasn't right and would say "Paige...do you need the pillow?" I'd nod for fear if I spoke that the tears would come rolling out. She'd give me the pillow and I'd hug the crap out of it. I think that those days have really impacted my current love for throw pillows. I find such a sense of comfort and love and security.
It is vital to me that the pillow is comfy. I don't like pillows that are just for decoration purposes. I think a pillow can look great and have great squishiness. Last year I had two great throw pillows on my futon that were perfect.
The other day my mom and I were running errands and we bought throw pillows in 3 different stores. Here's one of them!
I love throw pillows. I know they seem silly. But I like throw pillows for what I think are good reasons. I like to hug them...they give me great comfort. I blame one of my Student Council Advisers/teachers. She had this pillow that she kept in the classroom for kids who were having bad days. She always knew when something wasn't right and would say "Paige...do you need the pillow?" I'd nod for fear if I spoke that the tears would come rolling out. She'd give me the pillow and I'd hug the crap out of it. I think that those days have really impacted my current love for throw pillows. I find such a sense of comfort and love and security.
It is vital to me that the pillow is comfy. I don't like pillows that are just for decoration purposes. I think a pillow can look great and have great squishiness. Last year I had two great throw pillows on my futon that were perfect.
The other day my mom and I were running errands and we bought throw pillows in 3 different stores. Here's one of them!
A summer of contrast
Monday, July 18, 2011
God has been pretty funny with me this summer. It has been a summer of extreme contrasts. Here are my examples.
1. Mission trip in Malawi, Africa, vs. Mission trip in St. Charles/Geneva IL.
2. Helping out in pre-school in Africa vs. Coaching soccer at a pre-school IL.
This morning I assisted my brother in coaching soccer for All-Star Sports at a pre-school. Its amazing how much bigger the kids looked here than they did in Africa. They all had shoes, I bet they all had underwear. I bet they will all be wearing different shoes, underwear, and outfits tomorrow.
My eyes were reopened to how privileged we are. The facilities at the pre-school seemed incredible to me. The classrooms were bright and colorful. Haha anyone reading this has probably seen a pre-school classroom but it seemed all new to me. It is probably just the intense contrast from the whole under the tree with no supplies to what I saw this morning.
This school is also a Goddard school "Goddard Schools practice what they call a "Flex Learning Program" where children are assessed individually and given lesson plans across a variety of disciplines that are tailored to them." (Google hahaha) This concept at the Grace center pre-school would probably get a good laugh. In Malawi it was pretty much all repetition learning. The teacher would say something and the kids would just echo it back.
The difference is incredible. I'm not saying one is awful and one is great. I just think its crazy how different it is and how I've had the opportunity to see both extremes in such a short amount of time.
1. Mission trip in Malawi, Africa, vs. Mission trip in St. Charles/Geneva IL.
2. Helping out in pre-school in Africa vs. Coaching soccer at a pre-school IL.
This morning I assisted my brother in coaching soccer for All-Star Sports at a pre-school. Its amazing how much bigger the kids looked here than they did in Africa. They all had shoes, I bet they all had underwear. I bet they will all be wearing different shoes, underwear, and outfits tomorrow.
This school is also a Goddard school "Goddard Schools practice what they call a "Flex Learning Program" where children are assessed individually and given lesson plans across a variety of disciplines that are tailored to them." (Google hahaha) This concept at the Grace center pre-school would probably get a good laugh. In Malawi it was pretty much all repetition learning. The teacher would say something and the kids would just echo it back.
The difference is incredible. I'm not saying one is awful and one is great. I just think its crazy how different it is and how I've had the opportunity to see both extremes in such a short amount of time.
I still have a blog (Lead 222)
Saturday, July 16, 2011
It has been quite a while since I last posted a blog! #1 things have been busy but great. #2 I feel like I have not written enough about Malawi yet so that will still be to come. I just reread a journal post from the trip and it feels like that was forever ago.
This past week I've been at the church an unmentionable amount of hours. I was asked to help out with a week long event our church hosts called Lead 222. Seven youth groups (180 kids) from around the country came to stay at our church and serve at different sites in the area. I along with around 8 others were hosts. Our job was to make sure that they teams had everything they needed to be able to serve to the best of their ability. It was a crazy week. It felt like 3 weeks. But I loved it. My group served at Riverwoods Christian Center which provides camp and other serves to under privileged kids.
For me the concept of people coming to the suburbs of Chicago to serve was a little strange. I just went to Africa and there was definitely clear need there. But really...a mission trip...here? It was awesome to see be able to play the role of host in a way that was like how I was hosted in Malawi and to serve people in my own community. Its not like I've never served in my community before but never to this extent.
It doesn't matter who has the need or what the need is....if there is a need...as Christians we are called to meet it and give the glory all to God.
This week really went along with the title of my blog. Lots of adventures. I went into it not really understanding what was happening or what I was going to be doing. Adventures like doing the students laundry in 3 different houses at the same time at 11pm.
Now I am camp-sick. Which is a term I came up with when I was younger and would come home from camp. I'd sleep for a few hours then realize how much I missed it. This wasn't technically camp but it was a lot like it.
This past week I've been at the church an unmentionable amount of hours. I was asked to help out with a week long event our church hosts called Lead 222. Seven youth groups (180 kids) from around the country came to stay at our church and serve at different sites in the area. I along with around 8 others were hosts. Our job was to make sure that they teams had everything they needed to be able to serve to the best of their ability. It was a crazy week. It felt like 3 weeks. But I loved it. My group served at Riverwoods Christian Center which provides camp and other serves to under privileged kids.
For me the concept of people coming to the suburbs of Chicago to serve was a little strange. I just went to Africa and there was definitely clear need there. But really...a mission trip...here? It was awesome to see be able to play the role of host in a way that was like how I was hosted in Malawi and to serve people in my own community. Its not like I've never served in my community before but never to this extent.
It doesn't matter who has the need or what the need is....if there is a need...as Christians we are called to meet it and give the glory all to God.
This week really went along with the title of my blog. Lots of adventures. I went into it not really understanding what was happening or what I was going to be doing. Adventures like doing the students laundry in 3 different houses at the same time at 11pm.
Now I am camp-sick. Which is a term I came up with when I was younger and would come home from camp. I'd sleep for a few hours then realize how much I missed it. This wasn't technically camp but it was a lot like it.
Changed
Monday, July 4, 2011
I saw this video years ago and just refound it? if that makes sense. It's an awesome song with a sweet video! Enjoy!
Joy
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Dictionary.com describes JOY as: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. The joy in Africa can be surprising. The sad commercials never tend to depict joy. I am here to tell you that people in Africa do have joy and a lot of times I think they have joy to a greater level that we here in the states experience. They find joy in the little things and tend not to dwell on the more difficult things in life or feel sorry for themselves.
While in Malawi we worked with translators who were also the pre-school teachers. One of these teachers, Isaac (remember this means laughter), was extremely joyful. He would sometimes have up to 90 3 or 4 year old children in his small classroom. Kids would be crying, screaming, pooping and peeing.Yet somehow he remained joyful.It was hard for us to understand how he managed to do his job each day. He is basically a volunteer. I dont know of anyone who would volunteer to teach 90 pre-schoolers with few supplies, everyday and not get paid. I remember him saying that even if one kid walked out of his classroom and learned something it would be worth it. After pre-school he would then go out into the villages with us to put on back yard bible clubs. And he continued to be joyful. You could see him become so passionate when he would get to translate the bible story or read the bible story in their language.
We also spent time with kids from an orphanage called Timothy's Home. My heart broke hearing the stories of the homes and situations they came from but yet still the kids were filled with joy.
While in Malawi we worked with translators who were also the pre-school teachers. One of these teachers, Isaac (remember this means laughter), was extremely joyful. He would sometimes have up to 90 3 or 4 year old children in his small classroom. Kids would be crying, screaming, pooping and peeing.Yet somehow he remained joyful.It was hard for us to understand how he managed to do his job each day. He is basically a volunteer. I dont know of anyone who would volunteer to teach 90 pre-schoolers with few supplies, everyday and not get paid. I remember him saying that even if one kid walked out of his classroom and learned something it would be worth it. After pre-school he would then go out into the villages with us to put on back yard bible clubs. And he continued to be joyful. You could see him become so passionate when he would get to translate the bible story or read the bible story in their language.
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